Siamese-Vietnamese war (1841–45) | |||||||
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Part of Siamese–Vietnamese Wars | |||||||
A map showing the movement of Vietnamese troops (from June to December 1845) in Vietnam-Siamese War (1841–1845). |
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Belligerents | |||||||
Nguyễn dynasty | Rattanakosin Kingdom (Siam) | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Ang Mey |
Chao Phraya Bodin Decha Tish Bunnag Ang Duong Ang Im |
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Units involved | |||||||
Nguyễn Army |
Siamese Army Siamese Navy |
The 1841–1845 Siamese-Vietnamese War in Cambodia was a war between Vietnam (then under the rule of the Nguyen Dynasty) and Siam (Thailand) under the House of Chakkri. In the increasingly confrontational rivalry between Vietnam and Siam, the conflict was triggered by Vietnam's absorption of Cambodia and the demotion of the Khmer monarchs. Siam seized the opportunity to intervene as the tide of Khmer discontent rose against Vietnamese rule.
After Vietnam defeated Siam in the 1831–1834 war, the Vietnamese-installed Queen Ang Mey held on to the Cambodian throne during a period of increased Vietnamese influence over the country. Vietnamese occupation and oppression triggered a rebellion in 1841 with Cambodians overthrowing the pro-Vietnamese faction. The rebels appealed to Siam who supported another claimant to the Cambodian throne, Prince Ang Duong. Rama III responded and sent Ang Duong back from exile in Bangkok with Siamese troops to install him on the throne.
Facing increasing instability, the Vietnamese forces abandoned Cambodia and retreated to An Giang. Seizing the opportunity, the Siamese launched an offensive in February 1842, Chao Phraya Bodindecha, was assigned the mission of the capture of Saigon, with Dis Bunnag the Minister of Kromma Tha commanded the fleet - to be joined at Saigon. The two Cambodian princes, Ang Im and Ang Duong, also joined the expedition. Bodindecha took Oudong and the fleet took Bantey Mas, then the Siamese army capturing Cô Tô mountain. However Vietnamese reinforcements from Huế and central Vietnam quickly moved into the Mekong delta, halting the Siamese advance. By May the Vietnamese counter-offensive repelled the Siamese, recapturing Cô Tô and taking a large number of prisoners of war.